doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Charles Hellis 20 ga

Yes, OQ does take some learning. It is not a strict quality of the gun. Rather, it is how the market assigns value to the quality of the gun. The market does not assign the same value to a best work SLE and a best work BLE and I do mean a best work gun for the BLE - every bit the quality of the SLE. Note that the "C" grade SLE at OQ4 out ranks the best BLE at OQ5. Hammer guns are valued like boxlocks by the market except HG's are expected to be non-ejector.

My bottom value of $800 (based on the photos) with a 10% ding for 10 bore comes out at $720. I think we are on the same page here. Depending on the bores an d stock, $800 would in no way be unfair.

DDA

Your help on assigning a value whether the seller and I agree on a price has been more help than you probably imagine. It is not often that I buy a gun with a "personal" side to it. Usually I try to get the best price I can as the seller is doing the same and whatever happens is fair based on the circumstances. At the least, I will know when I am overpaying for a gun that I cannot walk away from. I will be studying the use of your system.
Happy New Year to you,
Milt

Happy New Year to you, too, Milt. Super glad to know my system has been of use to you.

Drop a note any time if you need clarification. Remember, OQ is market valuation of quality and that OQ1-OQ4 are for sidelocks and OQ5-OQ9 are for boxlocks. Even so, the lowest grade sidelock out-values the highest grade boxlock. Sounds wrong, but the market has spoken, at least for the time being. Oh, yes, the Wesley Richardson droplock is an exception for boxlocks.

DDA

Your chart does show some overlap in OQ5 and 6 for boxlocks and sidelocks and it is interesting that boxlocks and hammer guns are valued pretty much the same although it kind of makes sense.

The charts puts us close to the understanding of price that a larger dealer would have.

At what point do you change the valuations based on changing market conditions?

I monitor several auctions each year in the U.S. and Europe/U.K. for sale price. Interestingly, the market has been surprisingly stable for over 10 years now. You need many guns over several auctions to declare a market shift.

DDA

Don, have you noticed any difference in guns where, all else being relatively equal, barrel length impacts value? These days, it seems that guns with shorter barrels--especially 12's--aren't as much in demand as those with longer barrels. An interesting comparison might be Churchill XXV's compared to Churchills with longer barrels. But not sure you could find enough guns for a valid conclusion.

Larry, I haven't tried to find a correlation between barrel length and value. I may try that in the future. You are right that I need a good spread of guns to have any hope of a correlation.

Good point, anyway.

DDA